What five albums or singles are in heavy rotation for you now?

1. Duke Special's "Songs From the Deep Forest": A songwriter of vast ability and elegance. He's from my neck of the woods so it makes me all the more proud. I've not heard a debut record from the north of Ireland as accomplished or ambitious. He writes gigantic pop songs with a deft and subtle hand, and that is extremely rare and refreshing. It is a wonderful record.
2. Phoenix's "It's Never Been Like That": This record's been out for a while, but I mention it because we play it before we go on stage every night. As soon as it comes on no matter how awful we feel (for whatever reason, ahem) our spirits are raised. Amazing how music can rejuvenate.
3. The White Birch's "Come Up for Air": Circular, mesmeric majestic from Norway. His voice has the same haunting cello-like quality of Mark Kozelek from Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon and, like him, the songs are delicate but glorious, simple but evocative. Just the best new thing I've found in my hunting.
4. Of Montreal's "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?": Twisted pop genius. It's a bonkers, joyful and deliciously willful record.
5. Klaxons' "Myths of the Near Future": Even though the phrase "new rave" was their own invention and most likely tongue-in-cheek, they're much more than that. The record is bursting with great tunes and enough energy to power London.

What one song or album can you always listen to and how did you find it?
The Shins' "Chutes Too Narrow": One of my favourite records of all time and I'll never get tired of it. Their new album, "Wincing the Night Away," sounds like they've broadened their influences without losing any of their pop finesse. So I assume that will take up residence in my stereo like it's predecessor did.

What was the first record you ever bought and do you still have it?
Michael Jackson's "Thriller": Not sure this was the first, but it was one of them. I remember moon-walking in sock-soled feet to "Billie Jean" when I was about 5. My mother told me recently that up until we were 5 or 6 we used to dance to the charts every Sunday on the radio in the living room. It's a wonder I didn't end up on "The X Factor."

What was the first live show you ever saw?
Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Rollins Band, Ulster Hall, Belfast. It was the "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" tour, so that would've been about 1991. Hardly any bands came to Belfast in those days, but any band that did always had the best reception of their European tour. I remember reading in music mags bands saying that the crowd in Belfast was the most bonkers, and it made me very proud. I have a very vivid memory of lying in my bed after the gig -- my ears ringing so loudly I couldn't think -- and I was just grinning insanely, as if I'd brought a little of the gig home with me in my head.

What was the best live show you ever saw?
Nirvana, Teenage Fanclub and the Breeders, Kings Hall, Belfast. It was this gig that changed my life. It was also the next gig I saw after the Chilis. For such an avid gig-goer as myself to have peaked on my second gig might seem a little depressing, but it's still the benchmark I have in my head for every gig I see. I've seen gigs that were probably better (Arcade Fire do spring to mind straight away) but none that meant more to me. Both supports were life-changing, too, in their own way. I've been a fan of the Fanclub ever since, and I'd never really heard the Pixies before. It might be strange to a lot of folk to hear I heard the Breeders first and then went backwards to the Pixies. But back I went, and an ocean of noise opened up and swallowed me. That's another story though ... Nirvana were staggeringly good. I think if you cut me open, you could still see the damage Dave Grohl's bass drum did to my ribs. Kurt was my first hero and the reason I started playing guitar, so to see him up close was nothing short of a revelation -- a revolution even -- because I didn't want to do anything else with my life from the minute they came on stage.

Do you have any guilty pleasures you'd care to reveal?
Plenty. Neil Diamond, the Cars, Girls Aloud. There are more skeletons in my closet than clothes.

Discuss | Find out what other artists are listening to